Barbeau Peak, Canadian Arctic
Dates
June 1-10, 2025
Price
$21,000 CAD + GST
Group Size
Skill Level
Barbeau Peak, Canadian Arctic
Ski Nunavut's highest peak in the remote Canadian Arctic...
Barbeau Peak is a 2616m mountain in Qikiqtaaluk, Nunavut, Canada. Located at 82deg North on Ellesmere Island within Quttinirpaaq National Park, it is the highest mountain in Nunavut and the Canadian Arctic. Summit Mountain Guides is planning to conduct a ski mountaineering ascent of Barbeau Peak in early June 2025.
The weather and conditions will have a significant effect on our exact itinerary. Below is a sample itinerary
This is an advanced ski mountaineering program. You must have previous overnight winter camping experience and be an advanced intermediate downhill skier. Previous high altitude mountaineering experience is an important asset. Guests are responsible to self evaluate their skills as groups need to be matched together based on prior experience and ability. Experience with carrying a big overnight pack while pulling sleds is very useful.
Prior experience with Summit Mountain Guides is not required however it is highly recommended. This helps you anticipate the difficulty and style of our programs. It also contributes to building a better relationship with the guide before heading out on a long remote trip. Please contact us to discuss your goals & background.
The weather on Barbeau Peak
It is not uncommon to have big snow storms with very high winds, even in the Spring. The temperatures can vary widely in the springtime. They usually range from –15C overnight to 0C during the day. At higher elevation, temperatures will be colder and often drop below -30C overnight.
- Pre-trip planning support
- Fully certified IFMGA guide(s) services and costs for the guide
- Ski plane access fees, return
- Winter camping equipment (sleds, kitchen, and sleeping tents, stoves, fuel, cooking supplies)
- All group breakfasts and dinners while on the glacier and trip, all hot drinks
- Park Permits and Liability Insurance
- Group safety equipment (satellite phone, ropes, rescue kit, high altitude 1st aid kit, GPS, maps)
- Alternative plan based on current conditions
Not included in price:
- GST 5%
- Camping and meals while on standby to depart flight, 4 to 5 nights
- Lunch & snacks, cold drinks
- Personal ski and technical equipment and expedition clothing
- Personal winter camping equipment (sleeping bag, Thermarest)
- Air travel to/from Resolute
- Any additional costs related to itinerary changes, any extra fees incurred if beyond trip estimated dates
- Trip cancellation insurance (highly recommended, see booking page for ideas), adventure travel/rescue insurance, medical insurance
Alpine Ski-touring or Telemark gear? Which should you use?
If you are a downhill skier then you should use Alpine touring gear. Only if you are already an advanced Telemark skier should you use Telemark gear.
Spring skiing the high alpine environment offers variable snow conditions. On one particular run, things may go from perfect powder to challenging breakable crust and or variable wind affected snow. When compounded, the variable snow conditions, the long ski touring days and the large overnight packs all call towards the use of easier skiing set up like alpine touring.
Mount Logan provide a fantastic mountain travel experience. The skis become a traveling medium in the greater goal of getting from A to B. Alpine touring makes for fast and efficient travel hence contributing to a safer and more successful experience.
Can it be done on Snowshoes?
An ascent of Mount Logan can be done on snowshoes. For nonskiers with previous high altitude mountaineering experience, a snowshoe ascent may be advised. At SMG, we feel that the best way to ascend and descend Mount Logan is on skis. It is a mountain that leads itself to skiing much more than snowshoeing. For safety and efficiency reasons, we feel that everyone in a given group should be using the same mode of transportation and for our ski program, this is ski based. For use of snowshoes, please contact us for a custom trip.
We would certainly consider guiding a full group of snowshoers up Logan. We would need a minimum of 3 participants on snowshoes. Please contact us for more info on this topic.
How heavy are the packs or sleds?
Unlike Nepal, where Sherpa’s can help you carry equipment, Mount Logan requires that you carry all your personal equipment up the mountain as you go. At times, you will even have to carry some of the group equipment. Participants need to have at least an 80 litters pack on this trip. Once fully loaded with your personal equipment and some of the group gear the pack could be as heavy as 40-50 pounds.
Sleds will be supplied by SMG. They will be used on the lower half of the mountain, from base camp (2700m) to King col (4100m). Once fully loaded, sleds can weight close to 50 pounds. Because the sleds have more capacity than backpacks, we typically try to load them heavier than the backpacks.
